Red Wings extend win streak

DUANE BURLESON: ASSOCIATED PRESS
BIG NIGHT: Detroit's Valtteri Filppula, second from left, celebrates the first of his two goals with teammates Jiri Hudler (26) and Todd Bertuzzi in the Wings' win over the Predators.

Photo: Duane Burleson

DETROIT - Valtteri Filppula scored twice to lead the Detroit Red Wings to their fifth consecutive victory - 4-1 over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

Filppula added an assist on Henrik Zetterberg's goal as Detroit won its league-best ninth game at home. Dan Cleary added his fourth goal.

Jack Hillen ended Jimmy Howard's bid for his fourth shutout of the season when he scored midway through the third period. Howard ended the night with 18 saves.

Pekka Rinne had 33 saves for the Predators, who lost their fourth straight.

In other games

Penguins 4, Canadiens 3 - Kris Letang returned from being bloodied by a hit late in regulation to score 2:09 into overtime, giving Pittsburgh a win at Montreal.

Letang scored his third goal after James Neal poked the puck free from Carey Price as Pittsburgh improved to 3-0-1 since Sidney Crosby returned to the lineup.

Crosby got his eighth point in four games back from concussion-like symptoms that sidelined him for the better part of 11 months with an assist on Evgeni Malkin's goal 21 seconds in.

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